Commissioner of the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) Terrence Williams says crime continues to plague the country because the Jamaica Constabulary Force fails to effectively address organized crime.

Mr. Williams says the main reason for the rise in crime, in the last 10 to 15 years, has been due to organized criminal gangs, especially in western Jamaica.

Mr. Williams says Jamaica should adapt a model from the Nicaraguan proactive community based policing strategy.

He says Nicaragua maintains a low murder rate, although there is free movement of people from neighbouring countries (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) which all suffer from high per capita murder rates.

He was speaking at a Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town meeting last evening (Jan 11).